The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-10-26
FORESTS NEGLECTED TOMB.
The Last Resting-Place of the IlIuatrioua
Philadelphia Trag edian.

Philaueiphia Tragedian.
Philadelphia Inquirer
In neglected tomb in the old graveyard at.
tached 10 old St. Paul's Church. on Third street.
below Walnut. lies all that is NOR tai of Ed win
Forrest, the illustrious tragedian- 1t is plains
ordinary tomb, raised about three feet above
the pavement and covered with square marois
slab. To stranger the locality of the tomb
might remain forever profound mystery.
The friendly old sexton of the church knows
where it is, however. and he always cheerfuliy
consents to act ss a guide for inquiring visitors,
At least. that is the way he treated curious
newspaper man the other day. What q homely.
the famous actor presented. The marble slab.
discolored and crumbling with age, was com
pletey buried beneath several feet OF autumn
leaves that had fallen from the adjoining oax
trees 1t was but tho work of q moment to
brush these off But even then it was no easy
task to decipher the inscriptions on the tomb.
They Showed that the dreary looking abode was
the resting place of the tragedians mother and
sister and the other members of the family.
The last entry on the marble block was that
of Forrest himself. His name, and the date OK
his birth and death, nothing more. No epitaph.
no inscription. nothing but the plain facts For
a few years after his death loving hands lad an
nually placed fragrant flowers on the tomb, but
now the historic spot is neglected In every sense
of the word .Od St. Pauls." as it IS Familiarity
known, was for years the most influential Epis-
copal Church in this city. large. nigh sand
stone wall. so familiar and fashionable In the
olden times, still separates the ehurch-yard from
the street.
terest in tho church and its surroundings still
remembers. with feelings of sorrow and rever-
ence. the Forrest obseques. 1t was on dark
and dreary December day, he says, when tho
funeral cortege wound it's way around Walnut
street and down Third TO the church-yard. There
were delegations from dramatic associations ID
various parts of the country. There was dep
utatiou from the Lotus Club, of Now York. made
up of it's most prominent members including
the Mayor of New York The plain black caskes
contained simple plate. with the name OF the
deceased actor inscribed upon It.
The pail bearers included the most illustrioua
men Of the day. They James Page. ono
of the most prominent lawyers AID politicaue OF
the day; Daniel Dougherty, he of the ''silveH
tongue;" John w. Forney, the iliustrious journ-
alist; Samuel ID. Gross. tho eminent surgeon;
George ". Childs and others The old grave.
yard, with its historic landmarks, is little
thought of now. 1t is surrounded on all sides
by railroad Offices. insurance exchanges or COM
rercial houses. Each one of the three places
resembles beehive with it's hundreds of busy
employees. The only thought they bestow on
the venerable edfce. if any, is that it stands in
the way of possible business improvements.
All day long brokers bankers and merchants
hurry past, to and from their places OF business
scarcely bestowing glance on the old church
and it's historic treasures. Occasionally soma
pedestrian more sentimental than his fellows
stops, and walking up the three stone steps that
lead the graveyard gazes lonRinRly and
thoughtfully through the rusty iron bars that
separate him from the graves of Forrest and
other Phiiadelphians of moro or less prominence.